Gordon Robinson | Trick yu!

On February 7, 2016, Opposition Leader, Andrew Holness, while addressing a JLP campaign rally at Sam Sharpe Square:

“Within our first 100 days of government, we will start the legislative process to fix the date for general elections in Jamaica. This will bring greater certainty to the political process ….”

That was 18 days before a “general” election called at PM Portia Simpson-Miller's whim. That was the unlucky (for Portia) thirteenth time since Independence a PM wielded the awesome authority of deciding when we'd be allowed a not-very-general election vote for MP only.

After that election, new PM, Andrew Holness, instead of honouring that promise, ignored the issue for four and a half years before using that awesome authority to call a “general” election during a deadly pandemic, nine months before constitutionally forced to do so and mere weeks after assuring Jamaica elections weren't on his mind.

JLP won again. But, up to time of writing, neither PM nor Constitutional Affairs Minister has uttered a word in English regarding the long standing breach of promise.

On that same February 2016 political platform, Andrew Holness promised:

“Within the first 100 days of our government, we will start the legislative process to institute impeachment proceedings in Parliament. This will add another layer of protection of Parliament to ensure that only members of unquestioned integrity sit in Parliament.”

Three thousand, one hundred and twenty-three days after being elected, his Government has failed to bring an impeachment Bill to Parliament. Mark Golding tabled one two and a half years ago but it has been roundly ignored by Government despite Andrew Holness' promise to “institute impeachment proceedings in Parliament” before May 10, 2016.

Worse, it appears neither Government nor Opposition understands what “impeachment” means or can do. Parliamentarians shouldn't, for conspicuous reasons, be asked to decide on Parliamentarians' impeachment especially as MPs aren't appointed by MPs. Impeachment by parliamentarians is a sanction against members of a separate Executive Government whose appointment (except for a directly elected President) is confirmed by Parliament. The age-old rule is he who appoints can dismiss. So, We the People, who elect parliamentarians, should be the ones to dismiss them by recall election. Impeachment isn't dismissal. It only charges a political (not criminal) offence. Then there must be trial in the Senate since Complainant can't also be Prosecutor.

Perhaps we now appreciate how deep-seated and widespread confusion regarding governance has spread. Civics lessons urgently needed!

On that same 2016 platform, Andrew Holness promised:

“Within the first 100 days of government, we will start the legislative process to introduce term limits on the office of prime minister.”

Tricks yu!

Swept away by euphoria before the Sam Sharpe Square massive, like Joshua in 1980, Andrew captured the high ground to explain the urgency:

“So no government will be able to come and make false promises and hide the truth and tell you half-truths, and trick you into voting for them, and then when they win, they draw poison on you.”

Need I say anything more?

There's a very important “rake” Jamaicans should ketch. Except by inference from its flawed Impeachment Bill, His Majesty's Opposition hasn't highlighted any of these broken promises.

At PNP Conference, Mark Golding aggressively propagated PNP's opposition to King Charles' Privy Council. He delivered a passionate ultimatum regarding CCJ. But the silence was deafening on reforms like fixed election dates or term limits.

Supporting CCJ is a facile political ploy that doesn't affect PNP/JLP's stranglehold on or scope of power. Initially, CCJ is a necessary step towards full decolonisation but doesn't offer more democracy or accountability.

Government insists “Phase I” of its constitutional reform process only includes abolishing the King and “Jamaicanizing” the Constitution; but not CCJ. Yet Minister Marlene just announced government plans to introduce, in Phase I, an amendment to allow a super majority government (as exists now) to extend its term by two years by postponing “general” elections.

THIS triggered PNP's moral and legal outrage. Mounting his high horse with alacrity and aplomb, Mark Golding objected strenuously to this “dangerous” plot. Who exactly is he protecting? From what? Is he concerned about the proposal's obvious danger to us? Or is he concerned about the danger to PNP? If it's we the people's right to democracy concerning him, why not agitate for fixed election dates as vigorously as for CCJ?

So, now you see clearly the bipartisan conspiracy to keep us mentally enslaved; to offer only sham democracy; to make constitutional reform all about them, what will YOU do about it?

Peace and Love.

Gordon Robinson is an attorney-at-law. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com